Panasonic unveils new Lumix cameras featuring NFC and Wi-Fi support

Panasonic has announced two very different cameras with similar feature sets.

The Lumix DMC-G6 is the latest in Panasonic's mid-range series of Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens cameras, and the LF1 is a new compact with an impressive 7x zoom lens and a big 1/1.7in image sensor.

Both feature built-in electronic viewfinders and support file transfer over Wi-Fi, with support for Near Field Communication (NFC) pairing. Wi-Fi makes it possible to exchange images with your smartphone for online sharing, and NFC support makes pairing the camera with your phone a more streamlined process.

The G6 (pictured, top) is the follow-up to the Lumix DMC-G5 mirrorless camera. It is styled like a D-SLR, complete with a modest hand grip and an eye-level electronic viewfinder. The EVF has been upgraded from LCD to OLED, which is brighter and faster to refresh. There's also a 3in rear LCD that is mounted on a vari-angle hinge; it boasts a 920,000 dot resolution.

The image sensor is a 16-megapixel CMOS design, the same resolution as found in the G5. It supports a maximum native ISO of 3,200, but can be pushed all the way to 25,600 in extended mode. The image-processing engine supports JPG and Raw capture, and can rattle off full-resolution shots at up to 7 frames per second.

The Lumix DMC-LF1 (below) is a pocketable superzoom with a 28-200mm f/2-5.9 (35mm equivalent) lens and a big 1/1.7in image sensor. Its EVF is an 220,000 dot LCD design, but the rear 3in display matches the G6's 920k-dot resolution. The image sensor is the same 12-megapixel CMOS design that is used in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7, and is much larger in surface area than the 1/2.3in designs that are typically packed into long zoom cameras. Up until this point the Nikon Coolpix P7700 and its predecessors were the only compact cameras with that size image sensor and such an ambitious zoom range.

The company also announced a new lens for its Micro Four Thirds camera line. The Lumix G Vario 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH/Power OIS lens is a 14-140mm (28-280mm equivalent) zoom with built-in image stabilisation. It's a great lens for travel, as it covers a wide range of focal lengths so you won't have to worry about switching from a wide zoom to a telephoto one in order to get the perfect shot.

Panasonic's official announcement did not offer up release date information or pricing, but there has been speculation the new products will arrive in May or June.